An Emergency responder alerting Marker which is manufactured of molded plastic, which is highly visible due to size and color, and which can be strategically placed so as to attract the attention of approaching Emergency responders. The apparatus is portable, reducible in size, and is not reliant upon the utility of electricity.
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2. An apparatus for alerting responders as to the location of an emergency, which comprises:
a) means for attracting the visual recognition of responders without a reliance upon the utility of electricity; b) means for providing discriminatory placement of apparatus in the clearest filed of vision for responders; c) means for facilitating transport of the apparatus; and d) means for facilitating storage of the apparatus, wherein said means for attracting the visual recognition of responders without a reliance upon the utility of electricity includes deployment of a solid surface of highly visible color, and wherein said solid surface of highly visible color includes multiple frame supported and reinforced panel sections, wherein said multiple frame supported and reinforced panel sections include: two frame supported and reinforced panel sections which comprise upper panel units of said apparatus; and two frame supported and reinforced panel sections which comprise lower panel units of said apparatus; wherein said upper panel units include: molded extrusions on the outer facing surface of the frame of the panel units which when said apparatus is deployed, yield a surface which strikes a plane perpendicular to the horizon; said molded extrusions with surfaces perpendicular to the horizon have applied thereon reflective material. 1. An apparatus for alerting responders as to the location of an emergency, comprising:
(a) a frame supported and reinforced upper panel unit with molded extrusions upon which reflective material is applied, and said frames of panel unit are molded in such a manner that the said frames of upper panel unit may receive the frames of the lower panel unit into the frame of said upper panel unit and which said frames include blocking devices; (b) a frame supported and reinforced upper panel unit with molded extrusions upon which reflective material is applied and which includes an angular variance from the plane of said panel which provides, when apparatus is deployed, a framed surface perpendicular to the horizon whereupon an address and reflective material may be affixed, and said frames of panel unit are molded in such a manner that the said frames of upper panel unit may receive the frames of the lower panel unit into the frame of said upper panel unit and which said frames include blocking devices; (c) two upper panel units conjoin to form an A-framed structure; (d) two frame supported and reinforced panels which comprise the lower panel units the frames of which are molded in such a manner so as to include a groove on the interfacing surfaces extending nearly the entire length of said frames which are molded so as to allow for placement of spring actuated locking mechanisms upon which reflective material is applied.
3. A responder alerting apparatus as recited in
a groove on the interfacing surface; said groove has interspersed rectangular openings; said groove extends nearly the entire length of said frames.
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19. A method for alerting responders as to the location of an emergency, including the apparatus of
(a) attracting the visual recognition of responders without a reliance upon the utility of electricity; (b) providing discriminatory placement of an apparatus in the clearest field of vision for responders; and (c) facilitating transport of said apparatus.
20. A responder alerting method as recited in
21. A responder alerting method as recited in
22. A responder alerting method as recited in
23. A method for alerting responders as to the location of an emergency, including the apparatus of
(a) placement of an apparatus of highly visible color for attracting the visual recognition of responders without a reliance upon the utility of electricity; (b) placement of a non-fixed, easily mobile apparatus in the clearest field of vision for responders; and (c) retraction of panels of an apparatus facilitating transport of apparatus.
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Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
The present invention generally relates to signaling apparatuses which in this instance relates specifically to a marker which serves to alert emergency responders as to the location of an emergency.
In the last several years, American culture has seen a shift in emergency response services. Thirty years ago, ambulance services provided a somewhat short response time to a call in order that an individual might be transported to a hospital for medical services. At the present time, almost every community is served by emergency response personnel who are qualified medical technicians. Before patients are transported to a medical facility, they are evaluated and stabilized by the responding technicians. Such on site care has not led to a reduced concern regarding response time (the actual time between the call and the arrival of the responders to the incident). Rather, an intensified need for reducing response time is deemed necessary since life saving procedures can be provided early in the onset of a medical emergency. When the response time of trained professionals to the site of a emergency is reduced, there is a greater chance that an injured party will survive, that time of recovery will be reduced, or that subsequent medical costs may be reduced.
Response time, therefore, whether by Emergency Medical Technicians, Rescue Squads, Police, or Fire personnel, if it can be reduced, is highly beneficial. Various signaling devices have been developed in the past. Many of these devices employ flashing or continuous lighting as is disclosed by Jones in U.S. Pat. No. 4,547,761. Others employed fixtures to attract the attention of passers by as disclosed by Moore in U.S. Pat. No. 5,710,543. Some devices were even triggered by the dialing of a predetermined emergency phone number as is disclosed by Collins in U.S. Pat. No. 5,621,377. While each has its appeal, various problems do exist with such devices. A reliance upon electricity and electrical devices invites potential failure. Any broken link in the chain such as power failure, dead battery, failed bulb, defective wiring, failed buzzer, etc. reduces the device's effectiveness. These devices also required a fixed location. These fixed locations due to ordinance restriction, placement of vehicles on the street, the growth in trees or bushes over time may prevent the signaling device from being clearly seen. These devices are also costly. The price alone may be the chief reason that more households have not enjoyed the benefits offered by these devices.
Consequently, a need exists for improvements in means and method of alerting emergency response personnel as to the location of an emergency which have no reliance upon electricity, which can be placed at a point for maximum visibility, and which are not costly to residents.
The present invention provides an apparatus and method for alerting emergency responders as to the location of an emergency that are designed to satisfy the needs as mentioned above. Signaling the location of an emergency for responders is accomplished through the placement of a marker. Placement of a marker eliminates the reliance upon electricity. This marker is large enough in size and appropriately colored and embossed with reflective material so as to be easily seen by approaching responders. Since the apparatus employs an A-framed design, it can be placed reasonably in almost any location. Since the apparatus is portable, the resident is able to choose the most effective location of the marker in order that it might readily be seen by responders. The placement of this marker is facilitated by the fact that the marker can be reduced in size and is composed of lightweight material. Being able to reduce the size of the marker also facilitates the use of the apparatus. Such an apparatus can be manufactured at a low cost. Consequently, nearly every household would be able to employ the apparatus and method for alerting responders as has been provided.
The present invention may be clearly understood from an examination of the following drawings as are referenced in the Detailed Description of the Invention.
The upper panel units 20 (
Upper panel unit 20 varies in manufacture from upper panel unit 21 in that the upper panel unit 20 (FIG. 9 and
The upper panel units 20 and 21 (FIG. 1), while they differ as illustrated above, are also similar in some respects. The upper panel units 20 (
The lower panel units 22 and 23 as illustrated in
The lower panel units 22 and 23 (
The frame locking assembly is comprised of two metal plates 181 and 182 (FIG. 19 and FIG. 21). The plates 181 and 182 are riveted (191) together at holes 184 and 185 (FIG. 19 and FIG. 21). The frame locking assembly is then secured to the upper panel unit 21 (
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